ROJAS VILLANDRANDO, AGUSTN DE

born August 1572, Madrid died 1618, Paredes de Nava, Spain Spanish actor and author whose most important work, El viaje entretenido (The Pleasant Voyage), a picaresque novel in dialogue form, provides a valuable account of the Spanish theatre in the 16th century and of the life of the actors. He is also considered the cleverest writer of loas (laudatory dramatic prologues) of his era. Rojas served as a soldier in France, was captured and then was ransomed in an exchange of prisoners. Back in Spain, he joined a touring acting company that traveled throughout the country. After his marriage in 1603, however, he settled down as a public functionary in Zamora.